Initially, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, Jay Monahan, had many negative things to say about Saudi Arabia and their attempts to buy the game of golf with the upstart LIV Golf league. He called it unfair and sniped at the players that left for the league, suggesting that they will be tainted by Saudi Arabia’s poorly regarded human rights record. However, Monahan announced in a joint TV interview with the head of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that they will be forming a partnership.
This deal is an enormous victory for Saudi Arabia and their leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as it marks their ambition to position themselves as a major player in global sports, especially in the game of golf.
But the importance of the victory transcends sports. Saudi Arabia had many successes in recent months, including the opening of an embassy in Iran as the two countries are normalizing their relations after being longtime rivals. Also, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will be visiting and representing President Biden, who considered Saudi Arabia a “pariah” state due to various human rights violations.
The golf deal is a capstone for a busy week for Prince Mohammed, who will be hosting Blinken during his trip to maintain relations with the United States as they showcase their importance in counterterrorism policy. Furthermore, the two countries have maintained each other’s security despite the blatant flexing of Saudi Arabia’s muscles.
This sudden shift towards Saudi Arabia would have seemed impossible five years ago when they faced heavy international condemnation led by President Biden that almost isolated the Kingdom. However, Prince Mohammed has made significant strides toward diversifying the economy, ending bans on women driving, and loosening gender segregation. The Kingdom has also been aggressively tackling entertainment and tourism, as shown in the recent early successes of the English soccer club, Newcastle United.
There are many critics of Saudi Arabia, stating that they are using their spending power in sports to distract from their numerous human rights violations, which they have firmly rejected. People whose family members remain in prison have also expressed their worries. This sudden rise of Saudi Arabia is indeed a shock; its speed and results are impressive. However, progress on human rights must continue, and it is up to leaders like Secretary Blinken to prioritize this move forward.
Alan Blinder contributed reporting from Atlanta.
